1839 r.

Szczawnica

Spa | Pieniny

Explore Subregion

Szczawnica is an ideal place for patients thanks to its spa waters, which have beneficial effects on health. In addition, the town offers many green areas with trees that secrete health-promoting essential oils. Situated in the Grajcarek valley, between the Pieniny Mountains and the Silesian Beskid, Szczawnica is also a great place for mountain lovers, kayaking enthusiasts and cyclists. In addition, it delights with its wooden architecture with Zakopane and Swiss elements or the promenade stretching along the Grajcarek river.

Etymology of the name Szczawnica
The name Szczawnica comes from the springs of acidic mineral waters found in its area, called szczawy. They are formed by tectonic activity and are therefore saturated with carbon dioxide. They also have a high sodium content, which is beneficial to health.
Spa waters
Thanks to the geological conditions in Szczawnica, you can taste a number of spa waters at the Pump Room of healing waters on Dietl Square. From Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from Friday to Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The Pump Room offers waters: Helena, Jan, Jozef, Jozefina and Stefan, which you can drink on site or take home with you.
Promenade on the Grajcarek river
The Promenada nad Grajcarkiem in Szczawnica is one of the longest promenades in Poland (1800 m). It is an ideal place for cyclists and pedestrians who want to enjoy the beauty of the mountains. The route starts at the bottom station of the Palenica Mountain Railway and ends at the Dunajec River, from where you can continue your journey to Slovakia.
Volcanoes in the Pieniny
Bryjarki and Jarmuty, rising above Szczawnica, are the remains of extinct volcanoes. Climbing to the tops of both mountains, we can observe volcanic rocks, which are unique to the Beskids and therefore a real geological gem of the area.
Origin of mineral waters
Nearby volcanoes give off gases, mainly carbon dioxide, known as "volcanic fumes." Although the volcanoes in the Pieniny Mountains died out long ago, these gases still remain trapped in the rocks. When water encounters carbon dioxide in the ground, it becomes acidic, making it easier to dissolve the rocks through which it flows. This leads to the mineralisation of the water.Such mineralised, acidic mineral waters flow at the foot of Bryjarka, which contributed to the development of the popular spa town of Szczawnica. The motif of Bryjarka can be seen in the town's coat of arms, emphasising the importance of this mountain for the spa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do in the Szczawnica area?

Attractions
1

Heading by bus out of the Szczawnica area, you can see: Lake Czorsztyńskie and two castles located o...
What is interesting in Szczawnica?

Attractions
2

In Szczawnica, it is worth seeing the Lower and Upper Parks, Dietl Square, the promenade on the Graj...
What to see in Slovakia near Štiavnica?

Attractions
3

Slovakia offers many attractions not far from Štiavnica. You can visit the Červený Kláštor (Red Mona...
In which mountains is Szczawnica located?

Routes
4

Szczawnica lies on the border of the Pieniny and Beskid Sadecki mountains in the valley of the Grajc...
Are there thermae in Szczawnica?

Attractions
5

There are no thermal waters in Szczawnica, but in the surrounding area you can enjoy places such as ...
What to do in Szczawnica when it rains?

Attractions
6

You can go to the many inns, restaurants or cafés, or indulge yourself in a relaxing spa or pool at ...

Story

Dietl Square

Meeting place

The Dietl Square in Szczawnica can be visited by following the paths of the Upper Park. Initially, the square was the bed of the Szczawny Brook. It was not until the 19th century, thanks to the initiative of Józef Szalay, that it was transformed into a square for visitors to the spa. The square is named after Jozef Dietl, a balneologist and friend of Szalay, whose obelisk can be admired in the southern part of the square. In the centre is a fountain with a bronze sculpture of a "Woman with a jug". The Swiss-style buildings surrounding the square, such as the Dom nad Zdrojami, Villa Szwajcarka Górna, Villa Palace and the Dutchman's House, give the place a unique character. It comes as no surprise that the square is the cultural centre of Szczawnica's life. Numerous cultural and music festivals are held there. On site, you can also enjoy the Pump Room for healing waters (about which more in this article), delightful in its interior, and sit in a café, enjoying a delicious coffee or ice cream while admiring the charms of Dietl Square.
Promenade on the Grajcarek river

Recreation

Undoubtedly, during our travels, we are delighted by the small architecture of green places, which adds to the atmosphere and becomes the centre of city life. Such is the case with the promenade on the Grajcarek river, which combines the natural beauty of the Grajcarek, in whose valley Szczawnica is located, with what has been created by people: a bridge of lovers, a path along the river with wooden gazebos and benches for resting or places where one can sit, drink coffee or eat ice cream.
Beginning from the lower station of the cable car to Palenica, all the way to Pienińska Street along the Dunajec River, you can take a 1.8 km route in beautiful natural surroundings and even enter the water, which makes many families with children happy on hot days. Another thing that makes the promenade attractive is the pedestrian and bicycle path named after Anna and Artur Werner, which can be easily navigated by people with disabilities or cyclists. You can choose this place if you want to take a walk in beautiful nature without too much effort and with professional equipment or if you want to go further along the Dunajec river to Slovakia.
.
Lower and Upper Park

Rest

Upper Park
Upper Park in Štiavnica is the oldest spa park, which is not only an ideal place for a stroll, but also has a health-promoting character thanks to a health path with larch trees. There are also important buildings related to the history of Szczawnica, such as the Spa Chapel, the Inhalatorium, the Concert Shell, and statues commemorating important figures of the region. It is a place of relaxation, attracted by its charm and spirit of tradition.
The Lower Park
The Lower Park in Szczawnica is a picturesque place with a rich history. Located along Main Street, it offers many attractions and opportunities for relaxation. You can find here: a grotto, commemorating the figure of Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz, a fountain, a pond with colourful fish, spa water from the "Wanda" spring and gazebos in the Zakopane style. The various zones allow everyone to relax. Children can play on the playground and in the shade of the trees, botany lovers can enjoy the various plant species, and tourists can relax in the natural surroundings.
.
Headland overlooking the Dunajec River

Viewpoint

The undoubted attraction of Szczawnica is the Dunajec River located in its vicinity, thanks to which you can take advantage of boat rafting with locally dressed rafters, who spare no humour during the approximately 2-hour trip, and kayaking, which allows you to enjoy views that many people describe as almost unreal.
Before setting off to where the rafting trips are organised, you can, by strolling along the promenade on the Grajcarek River, find yourself less than an hour from the centre of Szczawnica on a promontory overlooking the Dunajec. There, you will find, among other things, a wooden sculpture depicting the pioneers of sport and tourism in the Pieniny - Anna and Artur Werner (from them comes the name of the mountain canoeing competition - Memorial of Anna and Artur Werner - organised in the summer) and a sculpture of a peacock woven from flowers. However, what delights most here is the view of the river, on which sometimes a dozen rafting boats filled with tourists sail, and the Pieniny Mountains, which seem to meander along the river.
Palenica cable car

Attractions

You can get to Palenica (719 m above sea level) from Szczawnica on foot, crossing the bridge over the Grajcarku River near the Lower Capital. Follow the yellow hiking trail. The climb should take about an hour. You can also take the PKL cable car in Szczawnica, open all year round, the opening hours of which may vary depending on the season.
It is worth taking the cable car at least one way because of the amazing view of Szczawnica, the promenade over the Grajcarok and the Pieniny Mountains. At the top of Palenica, we can see sculptures depicting ants, bats, dragonflies or mushrooms on an enlarged scale, use the gravity slide or eat at the Szałas Groń hostel, and all year round enjoy breathtaking views of the Pieniny stretching to the horizon.
Chapel in Severinovka

Monument

The church in Severynówka was established on the initiative of the Polish Teachers' Union. In 1922, the organisation obtained land for the construction of a small sanatorium from Count Stadnicki, the then owner of Szczawnica. The facility was put into use as early as 1925, but due to the considerable distance from the town centre and the religious needs of the visitors, it was decided to build a wooden chapel near the sanatorium.It is worth visiting for its aesthetic value and its history.